Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 280 · 40 questions

Writing tip (One clause leans on the other): Find the clause that starts with because, although, if, when, since, who, which or that — the subordinate clause (When the rain stopped). On its own it is not a complete sentence. The rest is the main clause (we went out to play): it makes complete sense alone. Choose the joining word by meaning: because → a reason, although → a surprise, if → a condition, when → a time, since → from a time until now, who → a person, which → a thing, that → what someone says, thinks or knows. Sort any sentence: one clause → simple; two main clauses → compound; a main clause + a subordinate clause → complex.

1. 1.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) We ate the cake
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When the water boiled (b) Mum added the rice (c) added the rice
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) because (c) although
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) is about birds (c) The book is about birds
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) The boy is my cousin (c) is my cousin
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) The book is about birds (c) is about birds
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.

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